How do you choose the best lighting for your dining area?
Written by
05 March 2025
•
4 min read
“The dining area is more than just a place to eat. It is where conversations flow, meals are shared, and memories are made,” remarks Naomi Taplin, Founder and Creative Director of Studio Enti. “The right lighting can elevate the mood and set the tone for any occasion.”
Sydney-based Studio Enti is the design space for Naomi’s handmade ceramic lighting and porcelain tableware collections. Renowned for merging quality design, longevity and sustainability in each crafted piece, ArchiPro recently sat down with Naomi to gather her insights on dining room lighting design.
How do you choose the best lighting for your dining area?
Understand your space
Naomi recommends first understanding the space you are working with. “Consider the size and shape of the room, including the ceiling height, when choosing lighting fixtures,” she says. “In small dining rooms or kitchen nooks, use compact fixtures that won’t overwhelm the space. For larger rooms or open-plan spaces, consider larger fixtures or multiple pendants to anchor and define the dining area.”
Naomi adds that high ceilings can accommodate clusters of lights, such as Studio Enti’s Dawn lights, while lower ceilings require fixtures that don’t obstruct sightlines or create a crowded feeling. “In such cases, a ceiling light, like our Dawn ceiling light might be the best option.”
Illuminate the focal point of the room
Naomi remarks that the dining table is usually the room's main focal point. Ideally, the lighting should be centred directly above it and proportional to the table’s dimensions and shape.
“A linear pendant or multiple evenly spaced fixtures work well for rectangular tables. When considering three fixtures, use a similar design with the central one being the more prominent statement enveloped by the two smaller ones on the sides,” she says.
For round or square tables, Naomi recommends using a single statement pendant or a cluster of smaller lights for balanced illumination. “Ensure that the width of the lighting fixture is approximately one-third to two-thirds the width of the table to avoid overpowering the table or making the table appear too small,” she says.
The right lighting sets the mood, making the dining area feel welcoming, intimate, or sophisticated, depending on the occasion.
Tasks and ambience
Before investing in a lighting fixture, consider how it will be used. Dining tables are often utilised beyond dining, such as completing a puzzle or as an extra workspace. “The right lighting sets the mood, making the dining area feel welcoming, intimate, or sophisticated, depending on the occasion.”
Naomi adds, “Use warmer light temperatures when dining for a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Ideally, layering lighting with a combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting creates depth, dimension, and multi-use. Our Eclipse sconce light is an excellent layering light."
“Also, consider incorporating dimmable fixtures for flexibility, enabling you to switch from bright lighting for everyday use to softer, ambient lighting for entertaining.”
Handmade porcelain or ceramic lights
Studio Enti is known for its refined selection of hues, from dusty pinks to olive greens and calm blues. The gentle gradients and tones add refinement and interest to any design. “Our lighting collection is crafted from two high-quality Australian porcelains, with bespoke colour variations that have distinct yet subtle differences,” says Naomi.
Studio Enti’s sculptural forms are best experienced first-hand, and specifiers and homeowners can now view the range in Studio Enti’s Sydney showroom located at 1615 Botany Rd, Botany, New South Wales, to get a sense of scale, opacity, tones, and metal finishes throughout its collections.
Read the Plateau project on ArchiPro or explore the full Studio Enti range on ArchiPro today.